Circuit controlling device



Sept. 22, 1936. A. E. ANDERSON CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 30, 1933 Inventor: Awvid E. Sanderson, b\ 77 l i Atbor-neg.

p 1936- A. E. ANDERSON CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. so, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: Arvid E. Anderson b H 5. 49;

His Attorney.

Patented Sept. 22, 1936 PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Arvid E. Anderson, Drexel Hill, Pa, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application December so, 1933, sci-n1 No. 704,653

11 Claims.

My invention relates to circuit controlling devices such -for example as those employed in switch reclosing apparatus whereby it the switch is tripped open in response to an abnormal condition on the line controlled by the switch, the apparatus will cause the switch automatically to reclose after the lapse of a predetermined time interval and if the condition continues to exist the apparatus will cause the successive reclcsing of the switch at intervals for two, three or more times as desired. It is the object of my invention to provide an improved device of this character which is simple in construction, efficient and reliable in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

My invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a circuit breaker provided with a circuit controlling device illustrating one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the device in the position which it has when the circuit breaker is closed; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the device in the position to which it is moved when the circuit breaker opens; and Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modification.

While my invention is applicable for use with switches of various types, I have chosen to illustrate it as applied to a solenoid operated circuit breaker i of well known construction. For convenience I have shown only certain essential parts of the circuit breaker of which the fixed contacts are represented at 2 which are arranged to be bridged by the movable contact member 3. The latter member connects by the rod 4 with the main operating lever 5 which through the toggle mechanism 6 is arranged to be closed by the solenoid 1 or tripped open by the tripping coil 8. Since this mechanism is well known to those skilled in the art a detailed explanation thereof is unnecessary. The winding of the solenoid I is connected with a source of current l0 through the electromagnetic switch I I. The tripping coil 8 also connects with the source l0 through contacts [2 of switch [3 and through the contacts of the overload relay I4. Switch i3 is fixed to the main lever 5 of the circuit breaker whereby contacts l2 are closed when the breaker is in its closed circuit position as illustrated. This switch is also provided with two other contacts it which are closed when the circuit breaker is in its open circuit position, not illus- (oi. zoo-3s) trated. Contacts [6 are arranged in series with the winding of switch Ii and'with the terminals i1 and I8 of the circuit controlling device 20 whereby when the circuit breaker is in open circuit position and contacts [6 closed, the switch 5 ll controlling the solenoid 1 is subject to the control of the device.

The device 20 comprises an hermetically sealed envelope .22 of suitable material, such as glass,

fiber or a moulded compound which in the form 10 illustrated is represented as having an elongated tubular form and which contains a definite amount of any suitable fluid or material which will flow in the manner hereinafter described.

Such a material preferably is a conducting liquid 15 such as mercury, but in certain cases may be sand, shot, etc. The envelope 22 is supported by the enclosing metal sleeve 23, a suitable layer 24 of cushioning material, such as felt, being employed, particularly when the envelope is made 20 .of glass, between the envelope and the sleeve.

The sleeve is held by the clamp 25 having at opposite sides thereofpivot pins 23 by which the apparatus is mounted for pivotal movement on an axis extending transversely of the envelope. 25

The device is arranged to be rotated preferably through an angle of approximately degrees by a connection with the main lever 5 of the circuit breaker. This connection is represented in Fig. 1 as comprising the crank 2?, rod 28, 30

35 At a point intermediate the ends of the envelope 22 of the device, the envelope is provided with an annular internal shoulder 35 and clamped to one side of this shoulder is the metal partition 36 by which the envelope is divided into two 40 chambers. For the purpose of lightness and strength the partition 36 is made arched in shape and is clamped against the shoulder by the clamping disk 31 which is perforated to allow the free flow of liquid therethrough and is provided 5 with the integral retaining ears 38 which by engaging the wall of the envelope serve to align the partition and the clamping disk. Further advantages of the arch-shape of the partition 36 are that it is better able to yield to any ex- 5 pansion and contraction of the envelope without unduly straining the same and provides for better alinement in the event of slight variations in the shoulder 35. The bolt 39 serves to clamp the partition and member 31 at their central 55 portions whereby the partition makes a sufiiciently tight Joint with the shoulder to prevent the passageof the liquid therethrough.

The partition 36 is provided with the two metal tubes lll and M of uniform diameter each of which is secured at one end to the partition and which extend in opposite directions into the two chambers of the envelope. At their free ends the tubes 30 and ll are shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as provided with detachable metallic orifice members 32 and 33 respectively having orifices therein which are constructed of the proper size to pass the liquid at the desired rate which will be explained hereinafter. The tubes 10 and ii are relatively large, that is, they are larger than capillary tubes so that nearly all of the liquid will drain out of each tube through the orifice thereof. However, because of the size of the orifice and the eiiect of surface tension a small quantity of the liquid always will be retained on the orifice member in whichever tube the liquid has last passed. This is advantageous for it prevents any small particles which may be floating on the surface of the liquid from getting into and clogging the orifice. These tubes also are long relative to the maximum depth of liquid over the partition whereby as the liquid flows through one orifice or the other, in accordance with the position of the apparatus, the pressure head of liquid at the oridoc is due principally to the depth of the tube and as the liquid fiows through the orifice there is a relatively small change in pressure head until nearly all the liquid has passed through the orifice. The end wall of each orifice member is thin so that the length of the orifice therein is small as compared with its diameter and since the tubes are of such a size that they also do not naturally retain the liquid by capillary attraction the small quantity of liquid in either tube. on top of its orifice member as described above will pass out the next time that the device is inverted, thereby leaving an unobstructed passage for the gas in the envelope to pass from one side of the partition to the other. Obviously when a vacuum is used instead of a gas no consideration need be given to pressure equalization on opposite sides of the partition.

The envelope at one end is provided with the stem 35 in which the terminals H and it are sealed and which terminates at its inner end in the cup-shaped receptacle 35. This receptacle is arranged to receive liquid which passes through tube 6G and orifice member 32 when the device is in the position shown by Fig. 3 and it will be noted is positioned close to the axis of the pivots 2t. By so positioning the receptacle '46 the receptacle will empty in a minimum time inasmuch as the centrifugal force of the liquid contained therein due to the rotation of the device from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2 is reduced to a minimum. Moreover the distance through which the liquid is discharged;

from the receptacle is thus made short.' Termi nal i8 is shown terminating adjacent the bottom of recetpacle 36 while terminal I? is shown carried up to a point near the top of the receptacle and is surrounded by an integral insulating sleeve which extends slightly beyond the end of that terminal and forms an inverted bell-mouth opening l'i, whereby as the receptacle fills with liquid the latter will build up'to a level slightly above the edge of the bell-mouth and then suddenly flow in from all sides to the terminal I? thus making a quick low resistance connection between the terminals. To prevent the liquid from splashing back into the receptacle 66 and momentarily closing the circuit between the' terminals when the device is turned to the position shown by Fig. 2, I have provided the deflector 68 which is secured to the partition by means of the support 449.

The space within the envelope above the liquid level may be evacuated but preferably is filled with a gas such as hydrogen which, if an oxidizable liquid is used, such as mercury, will not oxidize the liquid. Such a gas in addition to preventing oxidation of the liquid has the advantage that it eliminates any hammer which might occur when an evacuated envelope containing liquid is suddenly inverted since the gas forms a cushion for the moving liquid in the well understood manner.

In addition to the above-described apparatus for controlling the operation of the circuit breaker it will be understood that I may employ well known manually operable means for closing the breaker and also for tripping open the same. Such means is represented in Fig. 1 by the hand switch 50 by which the circuit of the electromagnetic switch H may be closed and by the hand switch 56 by which the circuit of the tripping coil 8 may be closed.

The operation of the apparatus briefly is as follows. With the breaker l in its closed position as shown by Fig. 1, the device 20 is in a position shown by full lines in Fig. 1 and by Fig. 2 wherein the liquid ,lies in the bottom of the envelope. If a short circuit or other abnormal condition occurs on the line controlled by the breaker the ing the spring connection 30 the reclosing device 1 28 is rotated in counter-clockwise direction to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and by Fig. 3. The liquid now fiows through tube 30 and orifice member 32 into the receptacle 66 and after a predetermined time interval which is dependent upon the size of the orifice in member 42 the receptacle fills suificiently to electrically connect the circuit terminals H and i8. Since main lever 5 by its descent has already connected contacts Id of switch 53, the device now causes the operation of switch l l which in turn closes the circuit of solenoid l to reclose the breaker. closing movement of the breaker the device is returned in a clockwise direction to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1 and the liquid contained in the receptacle 4161s immediately dumped out against the partition 35. The liquid now flows through tube M and the orifice in member 63 back to the bottom of the envelope, the rate of flow being governed by the size of the orifice in member 33. If the short circuit on the line has been removed in the meantime the switch remains By the refull line position is shorter than the time required for all of the liquid which previously was dumped from the receptacle to entirely pass through the tube 6 8. Hence the second time that the device is rotated to the dotted line position there will remain less liquid for passing through tube 40 than there was before. Likewise the quantity or liquid available for filling receptacle l8 grows less with each succeeding operation 01 the apparatus. If the short circuit on the line continues indefinitely the device will cause the breaker to reclose any desired number oi! times before the amount of liquid which is left to pass through the tube 40 is insufllcient to fill up the receptacle 48 to close the circuit between its two terminals. When this condition is reached the circuit breaker remains open until the trouble is cleared and the breaker is closed, for example, by operating the manual switch 50.

Inasmuch as the pressure head of the liquid as it flows through one orifice or the other is due principally to the depth of the tube 40 or the tube 4!, as the case may be. there will be but little change in pressure head until nearly all of the liquid has passed the orifice through which it may be flowing. The time intervals required for the receptacle 46 to fill are therefore substantially equal for each of several successive reclosings oi the breaker and the length of these intervals depends upon the size of the aperture in member 42 and the volume of receptacle 46. The number of times that the breaker will be successively reclosed under continued abnormal line conditions is governed principally by the amount of liquid which is placed in the envelope, for the small amount which is returned through orifice member is during the short intervals that the breaker is in closed position may be neglected.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form which is constructed to cause the breaker to reclose quickly and preferably but once in response to an abnormal line condition. This form of the device is like that shown by Figs. 2 and 3 except that the aperture member 52 is omitted and the device is provided with the pressure equalizing tube 5i which extends through the partition and clamping disk and preferably has its ends terminating close to the wall of the envelope in the two chambers as illustrated. When the device as shown in Fig. 4 is turned to the dotted line position of Fig. 1 by the opening of the breaker the liquid quickly flows through tube Ml, while tube 5! allows a rapid flow of gas so as substantially to preserve an equality of pressure on the two sides of the partition.

I have chosen the particular embodiment described above as illustrative of my invention and it will be apparent that various other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention which modifications I aim to cover by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A control device comprising an envelope mounted for rotative adjustment on a transverse axis and containing a fluid and a receptacle mounted therein for receiving the fluid, means in said envelope providing a restricted passage for the flow of the fluid into the receptacle, means providing a second restricted passage for the return of said fluid and means whereby a circuit is closed in response to the receipt by said receptacle of a predetermined quantity of fluid, said receptacle being arranged close to said axis whereby it is quickly emptied when turned to an inverted position.

2. A control device comprising an elongated envelope containing a liquid, means for moving the envelope angularly'about an axis extending transversely thereof, a partition in the envelope having a passage for the liquid, a cup-like member within said envelope arranged to receive the liquid from said passage and contacts in said member adapted to be connected by the liquid,

said member being arranged close to said axis whereby the discharge of liquid from said member when the envelope is quickly inverted is substantially unaffected by centrifugal force.

3. A control device comprising an envelope containing a fluid and having an internal shoulder intermediate its ends, a partition in said envelope forming a plurality of chambers therein, means for clamping it against said shoulder, said partition being provided with passages for the flow oi fluid therethrough and means whereby a circuit is controlled in the envelope in response to the flow of a predetermined quantity of fiuid.

4. A control device comprising a tubular glass envelope containing a fluid and having an internal shoulder intermediate its ends, an arched metallic partition in said envelope engaging one side of said shoulder, a metallic member engaging the opposite side of said shoulder and means for clamping together the partition and said mem ber.

5. A control device comprising a sealed envelope pivotally mounted on a transverse axis, said envelope containing a liquid and having contacts arranged to be short-circuited thereby, a transverse partition in said envelope, and a tube fixed at one end in said partition, said tube having a restricted orifice at the other end thereof for controlling the flow of the liquid therethrough from one side of the partition to the other.

6. A control device comprising an elongated envelope pivotally mounted on a transverse axis, said envelope containing liquid and having contacts arranged to be short-circuited thereby, a transverse partition in said envelope, a plurality of tubes each fixed at one end in said partition and extending in opposite directions therefrom and each having an orifice at the other end thereof through which the liquid must pass whereby the fiow of liquid past said partition is restricted in both directions.

7. A control device comprising an elongated sealed envelope pivotally mounted on a transverse axis, said envelope containing mercury and having contacts arranged to be short-circuited thereby, a metallic transverse partition in said envelope, a plurality of metallic tubes arranged to convey the mercury each fixed at one end in said partition and extending in opposite directions therefrom, and a detachable metallic orificemember secured to the opposite end of each tube.

8. A control device comprising an elongated envelope containing a liquid and being provided with a transverse partition having an opening therein and being arranged to be inverted whereby the liquid may pass through the partition, a cup within said envelope arranged opposite said opening for receiving the liquid, contacts therein adapted to be electrically connected by the liquid and a deflector between the cup and the partition for preventing liquid from splashing back into the cup and connecting the contacts when the envelope is again inverted.

9. A control device comprising an elongated envelope containing mercury and being provided with a transverse partition having an opening therein, a cup-shaped member arranged to receive mercury from said opening, a contact in said cup and an insulating member surrounding said contact having an inverted bell-mouth opening spaced above the bottom of the cup through which bell-mouth opening the mercury may flow quickly to the contact.

10. A control device comprising an envelope, containing a liquid and having a partition intermediate its ends, a'tube for conveying the liquid secured at one end in said partition and means having an orifice therein for closing the other end of the tube, said tube and means being constructed to retain a small quantity of the liquid above the orifice whereby floating particles on the liquid do not clog the orifice.

11. A control device comprising an envelope containing a liquid and having a partition intermediate its ends, a tube for conveying the liquid secured. at one end in said partition, a member secured to the tube at the other end thereof and having an orifice therein smaller than the bore of the tube whereby a small quantity of liquid is retained in the tube on the member and cover ing the orifice therein.

ARVID a. annms'on: 

